---
title: "Gun Rights Proponents Have Been More Politically Active than Gun Control Supporters"
description: "Nearly a quarter of those who say gun rights should be a priority have contributed to an organization that takes a position on gun policy."
date: "2013-03-29"
authors:
  - name: "Bruce Drake"
    job_title: "Former Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/bruce-drake/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/03/29/gun-rights-proponents-have-been-more-politically-active-than-gun-control-supporters/"
---

# Gun Rights Proponents Have Been More Politically Active than Gun Control Supporters

Supporters of stronger gun control measures stepped up their campaign this week for stricter gun laws. The [Washington Post reported](http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/nationwide-gun-control-campaign-to-put-pressure-on-wavering-us-senators/2013/03/27/ec260f9c-96ee-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html) that gun control advocates were holding more than 140 public events in 29 states on Thursday to press senators to support universal background checks.

A Pew Research Center survey in January had found a wide gap between those who prioritize gun rights and gun control when it comes to political involvement.

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/01/1-14-13-3.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/01/14/in-gun-control-debate-several-options-draw-majority-support/#politically-active)

Nearly a quarter (23%) of those who say gun rights should be the priority have contributed money to an organization that takes a position on gun policy, compared with just 5% of those who prioritize gun control. People who favor gun rights are also about twice as likely as gun control supporters to have contacted a public official about gun policy (15% vs. 8%).

By contrast, comparable percentages of gun rights supporters (19%) and those who prioritize gun control (15%) say they have expressed their opinion about gun policy on social networks. And about one-in-ten in each group says they have signed a petition on gun policy (12% of gun rights supporters, 10% of gun control supporters). [Read more](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/01/14/in-gun-control-debate-several-options-draw-majority-support/#politically-active)